Graphics cards, irrespective of their models, can face failures. Digitec Galaxus AG, a Swiss online IT vendor, provided data on failure rates of various graphics card brands and the effectiveness of their warranty claim process.
It is vital to state that this data is specific to Digitec Galaxus AG's sales and may not be indicative of global patterns. Due to disclosure constraints, the exact number of units sold isn't revealed, limiting a full-scale analysis. A crucial point to consider is that a reduced failure rate does not indicate superiority, especially if it represents only a small fraction of global sales.
The data from Digitec Galaxus AG includes brands that sold at least 300 units over the past two years. The data set does not specify if the units pertain only to gaming graphics cards or also include professional versions.
Statistical results show Gainward with the fewest faulty graphics cards, recording a 0.4% RMA rate. Since 2005, Gainward has been under Palit's umbrella and primarily functions in the European market. Palit is positioned third, registering a 0.8% RMA rate. Notably, Lenovo and HP, which don't sell graphics cards individually, rank second and sixth. They focus on prebuilt systems, sometimes using proprietary graphics cards or those from other brands, explaining their presence in the data. Digitec Galaxus AG also sells standalone graphics cards with Lenovo and HP branding, mainly for professional applications.
Based on the data, AMD graphics cards are ranked eighth, with a 1.4% failure rate. As AMD doesn't manufacture graphics cards, Digitec Galaxus AG likely refers to reference models, known as "Made By AMD" (MBA). PC Partner, which manufactures AMD reference graphics cards and has associations with Sapphire, Dell, and Samsung, appears to be behind these AMD models. Its subsidiary, Zotac, has a 1.8% failure rate. PowerColor, an AMD partner, registers a 1.2% defect rate. For AMD-exclusive AIB partners, Sapphire has the highest RMA rate of 2.5%, with XFX at 2%.
Turning to Nvidia, Inno3D has a 0.9% failure rate and a prominent European presence but minimal in the U.S. EVGA, which has ceased graphics card production, is at the 12th position with a 1.8% RMA rate. Established brands Asus and MSI tie at the eighth spot with a 1.4% failure rate. Gigabyte and ASRock are at 14th and 16th with rates of 1.9% and 2.1%, respectively.
Another aspect explored is the duration of manufacturer warranty cases—specifically, the time from when the graphics card reaches the service center to its return. Gigabyte has the most extended RMA times, taking 17 working days. In contrast, ASRock and Palit provide quicker RMA services, with a two-day turnaround.
Swiss Retailer Data Reveals GPU Brand Failure Rates: An Analysis
